Video games have long been a source of entertainment for people of all ages, but recent research suggests that they may also have a positive impact on mental health. A study conducted in Japan during the COVID-19 pandemic found that playing video games for just a few hours a day can improve overall well-being and reduce psychological distress. The results of this study, published in Nature Human Behaviour, provide valuable insights into the potential mental health benefits of gaming.
The study, which took place from December 2020 to March 2022, focused on gamers in Japan who owned a game console. The researchers found that simply owning a game console was associated with increased life satisfaction and decreased psychological distress. This suggests that gaming may have a positive impact on mental health, although more research is needed to establish a causal relationship.
Andrew Przybylski, a psychologist at the University of Oxford who studies the effects of video games on mental health, notes that this study is an important step in understanding the relationship between gaming and well-being. However, he cautions that the results may have been influenced by the unique circumstances of the pandemic, which could have amplified the mental health benefits of gaming due to limited opportunities for other activities.
Previous studies on the effects of gaming on mental health have produced mixed results, with most relying on observational data that cannot establish cause and effect. This study, however, sought to address this limitation by conducting a natural experiment during a time of increased gaming activity. The researchers focused on individuals who entered a lottery to purchase popular gaming consoles, such as the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 5, during the pandemic.
The study included over 8,000 participants ranging in age from 10 to 69, who were surveyed about their mental health, video game ownership, and sociodemographic characteristics. Participants who were able to purchase a gaming console through the lottery reported a decline in psychological distress and increased life satisfaction compared to those who did not win. The study also found that the mental health benefits of gaming varied based on factors such as gender, gaming experience, and household composition.
Interestingly, the study found that playing video games on either console increased life satisfaction, with additional benefits seen for those who played for an extra hour a day. However, the positive effects of gaming tapered off for individuals who spent more than three hours a day gaming, suggesting that moderation is key when it comes to reaping the mental health benefits of gaming.
While the results of this study are promising, researchers acknowledge that more research is needed to fully understand the impact of gaming on mental health. Replicating the study in different contexts and exploring other factors that may influence gamers‘ mental health are important next steps in this line of research. Overall, the findings suggest that gaming may have a role to play in promoting mental well-being, particularly during challenging times like the COVID-19 pandemic.